Linden Blue Recognized at the Living Legends of Aviation Awards Ceremony

Spectrum Aeronautical noted with pride last week that on January 22, 2009, Living Legends of Aviation and the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy honored Linden Blue, Chairman and CEO of Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, with the Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

During the Sixth Annual Living Legends of Aviation ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA, Blue and other award recipients were honored at the sold out venue.

Blue, one of 70 "Living Legends of Aviation," was inducted three years ago. He was presented with this current award for his past and present aviation entrepreneurship and innovation.

The citation included a short history of his achievements, noting that: "His passion for aviation began at the age of eight, with technology always leading Linden's interest in flight. From leading Learjet product improvements at Gates Learjet in the 1970s to developing the Beech Starship and Lear Fan in the 1980s, Linden has always been a technical innovator. He developed and continues to build the unmanned Predator aircraft, and his latest project is the revolutionary family of Spectrum Aircraft."

Past recipient of the Entrepreneur Award, Cirrus Design co-founder Alan Klapmeier, was on hand as well as this year's additional award recipients. Recipients and other notable personalities in attendance included Harrison Ford, Sir Richard Branson, Major General William Anders, President of NBAA Ed Bolen, Morgan Freeman, Joe Clark and Dr. Buzz Aldrin, all part of a distinguished group of aviators presenting attendance.

"While I'm honored to be presented with this award, I'm really accepting it for the outstanding team we have at Spectrum and Rocky Mountain Composites," stated Blue. "We are fortunate to live in a society which is self governing, and in tribute to our Founding Fathers, we've named our aircraft Independence and Freedom."

Spectrum is developing the Freedom S.40, a nine-place mid-sized jet powered by GE Honda Aero Engines' HF-120 fanjets, and is scheduled for certification in late 2010. It is also developing the Independence S.33, a seven-place light jet using Williams International's FJ33-4A jet engines, scheduled for certification during 2011.

FMI: www.spectrum.aero